He was sentenced to six months in prison suspended for 12 months, made subject to community supervision for 12 months and ordered to do 200 hours unpaid work.

He was also ordered to pay £100 compensation to PC Nick Hagan and £50 to PC Graham Salt. John Wood, prosecuting, said the officers attended at the VIP Snooker Club in Darwen Street following a report of a drunken man who was refusing to leave.

PC Hagan was walking towards the bar when Hagan lunged at him from under the pool table, grabbed him by the legs and slammed him against some steps.

“He is a large, muscular man and began violently assaulting the officer,” said Mr Wood.

“A member of the public intervened to help PC Hagan before the second officer also came to his assistance. Other officers arrived and helped to get the defendant out of the club where limb restraints had to be applied.”

Mr Wood said there were about 60 people in the snooker club and they had become aggressive, shouting ‘kill the pigs’ during the disturbance.

Damian Pickup, defending, said his client had been to a christening and had been drinking for 12 hours.

“When he sobered up he took full responsibility for what he had done,” said Mr Pickup.

“He doesn’t drink very often but when he does it tends to be a binge. On this occasion it resulted in this disgraceful behaviour.”

Mr Pickup said Clark’s partner was expecting their first child and he was looking forward to a new chapter in his life.

“He wants to be a role model for his daughter and knows this kind of behaviour is not acceptable,” said Mr Pickup.